Date: May 01, 2017
Author: Mark Hayes

Lee rises in windy Shootout

It took almost two hours in a playoff, but 2016 Women's Australian Open champ Haru Nomura finally saluted in Dallas.

Nomura, of Japan, hit a great approach to the sixth playoff hole and made a birdie to beat American veteran Cristie Kerr at the LPGA Tour's Texas Shootout.

"I’m so happy to win again. I’m so excited," said Nomura, who had led by as many as five strokes on the Las Colinas Country Club as high winds blew apart her total with a five-over-par 76 good enough to hang on at three under with Kerr (74).

Only two golfers – Amy Yang and Eun-Hee Ji – were under par in the final round as gusts of up to 70km/h took their toll.

Australian No.1 Minjee Lee was among the beneficiaries of the conditions with her closing 73 enough to vault her into a tie for fifth at one over.

Katherine Kirk fought on well to finish T21 at five over, while fellow Queenslander Sarah Jane Smith fell back to T44 at 10 over.